Cairo, 5 March 2006 - The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information(HRinfo)announced today its concern and condemnation of attacks against freedom of expression committed by Arab governments by blocking Web sites calling for freedom of thought and expression.

In less than a week, the Egyptian Web site www.masreyat.org has been blocked in Egypt. In addition, the famous Web site of Modern Discussion, www.rezgar.com, has been facing threats of being sued by a Saudi businessman. The Saudi businessman has threatened to sue three Web sites, Modern Discussion, Elaph, and Dar Alnadwa, under claims that these Web sites write in an unacceptable manner on Muslims.

The threats come at a time when these Web sites are actually blocked in several countries. The Modern Discussion Web site, however, is the most blocked Web site, as it is blocked in Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and Tunisia. This is because the Web site hosts the writings of many Arab writers and journalists who have found in it a space for freedom of expression, especially in defence of secularism, women's rights, campaigning against capital punishment, and defending other journalists and writers.

"Most Arab governments largely oppress freedom of press and expression," HRinfo Program Coordinator, Sally Sami, said. "Now that the Internet has provided a venue for liberties, Arab governments are seeking to restrict its space by blocking Web sites and terrorising Internet writers and users," she added.

It is worth noting that the Tunisian government, for example, was the fastest to block a Web site. The Tunisian government blocked www.yezzi.org 18 hours after it was launched. It should be noted that the Tunisian government is infamous for blocking many human rights and political Websites.

In Egypt, security authorities have recently been blocking Web sites calling for reform, such as the Save Egypt Front, and Masreyat, in addition to its continuous blocking of the Web sites of the Al-Shaab newspaper and the Al-Amal (labour) party.

The Saudi government, on the other hand, is not satisfied with daily blocking of nearly 200 Web sites. Religious scholars and businessmen affiliated to the Saudi government are starting to launch campaigns against the freedom to use the Internet and the freedom of information exchange.

Religious scholars have issued a fatwa prohibiting women from using the Internet without the presence of a mahram (a close relative they are prohibited to marry). This was followed by a call from Saudi businessmen to sue Web sites that call for freedom of thought and secularism, such as the aforementioned Web sites.

"Amongst the Arab governments violating freedom of expression and exchange of information, we find that the most aggressive are those of Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt," Sami said. "Such behaviour breaches the right of citizens to acquire information and news and deprives them of a variety of sources of information," she added.

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And please tell me that the part on banning women from surfing the net on their own is a sad sad joke please :(

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I feel the same about the Saudi women and hope it's a joke. Unbelievable really. Can you imagine having to be supervised in such a way?! If this is true, I wonder if there's ever a time when these women feel like they have to 'break free'. I mean, in the States, the daughters of preachers are usually the wildest because they've been held back for so long and not allowed to do things so a lot of them will go a bit crazy when they get into high school or college... but these Saudi women aren't afforded that same freedom. I really hope that this is a lie/joke because the net is the only tool that many of them have to "go crazy", if they want, or to allow their spirits to break free.

"I mean, in the States, the daughters of preachers are usually the wildest ... go a bit crazy when they get into high school or college... but these Saudi women aren't afforded that same freedom."

Question: What happens when a Shwilly Shawarma-lovin' Saudi Girl gets fast tracked a visa and ends up the roomate of the preachers' daughter at some university???

A.) They form a club to discuss beliefs with groups such as the debate team, the basketball team, the swim team, the girls' basketball team and the track team.

B.) They become business minded, it costs money to run buildings, so they read Forbes Magazine and discuss the facts through endless days and endless nights; economics, product placement, charts, curves.

C.) They form a rock band called "Babes in Toyland" and often sing together. They're friends.

Yes the icon of Free Speech is important and we all know that or should know that.

We're also surely aware that our dyed in the wool liberal sisters and brothers fight in the trenches under the banner du/for "Free Speech."

This is often overlooked as just blind faith, adopted in the liberal university atmosphere, and snubbed by RightWingers who mock such as terminal adolescence. This could be sellin' the premise short, really short, like a pizza delivered to the door, a day late.

Make note to the "Piss Christ" 'art' display of recent years. As a former student, of the Renaissance, I understand the motivation of leather whips held like a tail in the tail. And all art is kind of political, isn't it, if you think about it and look at it? It's right there in front of you, when viewing, read the intent, the motivation, the moment in time, the symbols that reveal the artists' minde.

Of course the intent, concious and never unconcious, was to defend speech, Free speech, that is.. It has to be defended! Not pissed on. At all cost. Else we degrade into madness, stupidity and dread habits of behavior.

Art elevates. Other things, totalitarian, mechanical, drag us down, abuse us, even when we don't realize it; we can be overcome! It's the abyss around the edges and sometimes, more so than other times, in time, we get taken so -we must be vigilant and patient-.

The future, very very long, very creative, very wonderful, depends on our foresight and preparation now! Else it's the fall of Rome every semester if we don't, if they don't, defend free speech and rights, rights, Rights!

Soo many wonderful things actually do come from such exhibitions. You can feel it, even if you can't see it, and if you don't know the genre, your instincts must notice something.. Just imagine the thoughts that follow such heady exhibitions, and then the dreams, even the following night. It's fun to view and see where the mind wanders regardless of important issues symboled in the a rt.

This is what the Left is all about; Egalitarian society for all! The ultimate goal, for some, as history shows and exhibitions show. They're dedicated, and busy always.

Silmply Simply put; In the World, Free Speech is important! Those lips must keep moving and moving else we'll be oppressed by something very oppresssing. Those lips, must move..

That sounds like the making of a great novel to be followed by a even better movie. Kind of a new twist on Thelma and Louise. The two go on a national "Strip Club" tour around the states playing to PACKED crowds of extra horny men! I say start writing NOW!

Now don't think for one minute that I fell for that paprika (sp?) deception pulled by wafah!!! She's still an unruly Arab whether posing half naked on silk sheets with feathers and heels or not! She sure sends a message though...

I swear my first thought was that the shawarma loving girls would end up strippers. Whaaaa a f------ coincidence!

Damn it, the time again, I'll have more to say alittle later. It would make interesting reading though, that being this story of oppressed, desperate, steamed, crazed, insatiable, busy women who end up up naked in front of crowds of equally desperate men. Who would cook the food?

It must happen all the time but the writers are always so pc that the films never burn hot enough.

I get it Falcons. Even when people 'ave ~free speech it doesn't mean the speeches are anything worthwhile.

That teacher was just suspended for reworking that tired leftist dull drab comparison to the US Administration and Nazi Germ'.

You can be sure that guy can find nothing good about the US. He's a classic anarchist product of leftwing faculties. He probably does the same thing, in that silly world 'tween his ears, which is: he gives high grades to students who act interested in his lame, years late on war-war-election, crying and moaning.

Just read at Defamer.com that Dufour is going to star in her own reality TV series! It'll be based on her life. Aaaaahhhhh, that 5 mins. of fame is almost up... so now she's grabbing the horse by its saddles.... or maybe she already has! ;) Somebody please shoot me.

Wafah is a lovely girl and quite demure no doubt. These scurilous accusations can only bring all of us down into the gutter of debauchery. We'll be stuck with sordid sordid sordid thoughts while amongst ourselves..

Without getting into the side issues -- but yes, the niece of Bin Laden IS supposed to be getting her own reality show -- the comments about needing a mahram man around before surfing the internet are not surprising to me. After all, we are talking Wahabis here. (If you have never checked it out, you should look in on the following site:http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng

where Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid tells you more about (Wahabi) Islam than you really wanted to know.

This is a site which tells you that you should not, if possible, ride on public transport with women"For men to mix with women on public transport, at work or in school is haraam, because it leads to great evils as is obvious." And that if you HAVE to:If a person has no other choice but to travel on mixed public transport, then he must fear Allaah as much as he can, lower his gaze and not look at haraam things, and avoid sitting beside women as much as he can, even if that means standing, seeking thereby to please Allaah and avoid the fitnah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) warned against: “Beware of women, for the first fitnah among the Children of Israel was because of women.” Narrated by Muslim (2742).

And he said: “I have not left behind me any fitnah more harmful to men than women.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5096)and Muslim (2742).

A person can avoid this by changing his seat and so on."

And if you can't do that:"If a person has no choice but to use public transit and he cannot change his place or change vehicles, and he cannot stand because that is even more crowded and brings even more contact with women, then there is no sin on him in that case if he sits next to a woman, so long as he keeps away from her as much as possible.

If he fears fitnah for himself and the shaytaan starts to whisper to him and divert his thoughts, then he must get off as soon as he can, no matter how late that may make him for work or school, because there is nothing more precious to a man than his religious commitment, so he must protect it. "

And this was just the first question I found at random.

There is also a question about whether excessive laughter is forbidden. (No surprise, it is.)

It was the "Muslim-refusenik" site mentioned above, which I also recommend, who took me to this site that can violate the last rule I mentioned, if your reaction is hilarity rather than tears.

Definitely check the site out, and also ISIS (The Institute for the Secularization of Islamic Society).

Two final comments for all you Internet users out there, because our Mad Sheik has discussed the Internet as well.

"There is nothing wrong with corresponding with your fiancée in order to agree on matters to do with the wedding, if that is done with the knowledge and supervision of her parents, and it is free of any expressions of love that are not permissible between a man and a non-mahram woman. It is well known that the man is a “stranger” (non-mahram) to his fiancée until the marriage contract is done.

It makes no difference whether this correspondence is done via e-mail or regular mail, or over the telephone, but it is better if the correspondence and conversation is with her guardian only."

And

"There is nothing wrong with a Muslim woman making use of the internet and entering the Paltalk website for that purpose, so long as that does not lead to anything that is forbidden in Islam, such as talking privately with men. That is because talking to men may turn into chat which usually leads temptation. Hence it is essential to be strict and avoid that, seeking the pleasure of Allaah and fearing His punishment.

How often have these conversations lead to bad results, and even caused people to fall in love, and have led some to do things that are even more serious than that. The Shaytaan makes each of them imagine attractive qualities in other, which leads them to develop an attachment that detrimental to their spiritual welfare and worldly affairs.

Sharee’ah blocks all the ways that may lead to fitnah (temptation, trial), hence it forbids softness of speech and does not allow a man to be alone with a non-mahram woman. Undoubtedly these private chats are not regarded as khulwah in the sense that he people involved cannot see one another, but they are one of the greatest causes of fitnah as is well known.

...

Fear Allaah, and do not speak to non-mahram men. This is safer for your religious commitment and purer for your heart. "

And one last advice for students:"It is not permissible for a woman to work or study in a mixed university, because of the evils and haraam things that result from that, as is obvious to everyone. ...It is not permissible for a woman to study or work in a place where there is mixing between men and women, and it is not permissible for her guardian to give her permission to do that. End quote.

There is no obligation to obey one's parents with regard to studying in a mixed environment, because there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator. The Prophet...But if a woman has the misfortune to be studying in a mixed university, she should reduce the evil as much as she can, so she should not debate with men or allow any opportunity to speak to her or get to know her, even if that leads to her getting lower grades. Warding off evil takes precedence over seeking benefits. She should also cover herself fully, so that not even her face and hands can be seen, and attend as little as possible, until Allaah grants her a way out. "

Not only is this alleged Fatwa nonexistant, but it reeks of provocation.

First, there is no source cited for this fatwa.Second, the text quoted by Haitham can only be traced back to a headline published in the Al-Qabas newspaper in late 2004. No such fatwa can be found however.Third, the text quoted by Haitham can only come from a sick moron. It goes against everything that Islamic, logical, or not retarded.Fourth, the text quoted by Haitham ascribes the Fatwa to shaikh Othman Alkhamees. If it were true, it would have been on his website. On the contrary, he rejects ever having said anything like that. His response from his official website at:http://almanhaj.net/fatwaa/article.php?ID=222

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